The top 10 New York Comic Con events you shouldn’t miss

Set phasers to stun! Here are the panels, signings and events you'd be crazy to pass up.

Are your pop-culture senses tingling yet? The ninth annual New York Comic Con is right around the corner and it's packed with tons of events, panels, booths, parties and more. It was hard to only choose ten, but we've compiled our most anticipated events for this year. Be sure to say hello to native New Yorker Eugene Mirman, or swoon for Norman Reedus at AMC's The Walking Dead panel.

Since the 1960s, comic books have grown from an introvert-loved business to a $2 trillion industry. Our favorite city hosted the very first convention in 1964 with approximately 100 attendees (including a young George R.R. Martin), and now New York Comic Con hosts more than 180,000 guests and keeps getting bigger. This panel takes you through a short history of how we came from the tiny cons of the beginning to the insane amount of cosplayers, superfans, collectors and celebrities that attend today.

There better be at least one Equestranauts outfit at this panel. The hilarious and talented voices of the hit animated show Bob's Burgers will come together for a Q&A panel discussion that will feature never-before-seen footage from the series. In the meantime, check out our recent interview with Eugene Mirman.

Comic-book fans will celebrate with a look back on 75 years of Marvel history. This panel brings together creators from all different periods together to talk about their work and the expansion of the company. We're hoping Stan Lee will make a cameo at this one.

This panel is one of our favorites to look out for. Times editor J.D. Biersdorfer will moderate this discussion, which includes Wonder Woman artist/writer Phil Jimenez, Jamie McKelvie from Young Avengers, and more as they cover LGBT diversity and answer questions from the audience.

Our favorite Science Guy is here! Ever since his return via online videos, Bill Nye has given us nostolgic memories of his '90s hit television show. He goes one-on-one with fans as he signs autographs. Be sure to swing by Randall Munroe's spotlight as well, as he talks with Nye.

There might not be any Defence Against the Dark Arts teachers being thrown across the room, but there will be plenty of foolish wand-waving and silly incantations in this class. Have your wands at the ready, and head over to this family-friendly event happening each day of the con.

Whovians are just getting use to their new Doctor, but there's still plenty to celebrate at this con. This almost marks "10 Years of New Who" (look for that panel too), since the show's revival in 2005. To celebrate the success, BBC America is hosting its first-ever Doctor Who Fan screening in New York for the newest episode, "Mummy on the Orient Express."

What would a con be without the parties? From TheOneRing.Net party to the Defender Launch Party with Brooklyn Brewery, we're ready to throw on our favorite '80s-movie shirt and go. This year's offical NYCC After Party will host video games, anime, giveaways and a Walking Dead screening. The best part is there's no admission fee.